Bunion correcting apparatus



Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT vFFICE UNIoN comerme APPARATUS IreneA A. Danner, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application october 2o, 1943, serial No. 506,947 f volantes. (o1. 12s-32) This invention relates to apparatus for treating the feet, and more particularly to apparatus that `is especially suitable for correcting bunions in a non-surgical manner. It is an object of this invention to provide ap- .paratus for treating and correcting the feet, especially bunions, by application of a num-ber of nonsurgical treatments. Other obj ects are to provide such apparatus which `is easy. to use and which is not painful to the patient.

In accordance with this invention amovable footrest is vibrated at high frequency by an electric anotor positioned in front of the footrest. A bracket is mounted on the front end of the motor and projects above it for supporting one or more traction devices that extend rearwardly toward the footrest. Each traction device is adapted to beconnected by a slingor grip to a toe of a human foot resting iirmly on the footrest, orto vthe foot itself, depending upon the nature-of the correction that is to be made. The traction device includes a spring for exerting tension on the toe or foot while the footrest is vibrated. In the case of a bunion, while the big joint of the toe isheld open by the traction on the toe, the vibrating footrest works the joint Vand bunion and increases the blood circulation to bring about the reduction of the bunion. At the same time, the rapid vi bration numbs the vjoint area so that the patient does not suffer pain. When a hammer toe is being corrected, the toe is stretched and held out straight by the traction device' while the foot is Vibrated.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which vFig'. 1 is a plan view of my bunion correcting apparatus; Fig. 2- is a side view partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vfront end view thereof.

Referring to the drawing, a base plate l is provided at its front end with a hollow upright boss 2 on which rests the central portion of a horizontal cross bar 3. This central portion of the .bar is provided with a vertical passage through it, and a headed pin 4 extends down through the passage and the hollow boss and is held in place by a nut threaded on its lower end. The pin has a radial shoulder that rests on `top of the boss so that when the pin is fastened tightly in place in the boss by a nut 5 on the lower end of the pin, the cross bar remains free to swing horizontally on the pin as a pivot.

Projecting from the front of the central portion' of the cross bar isan integral housingl 6 in front of which an electric motor 'l is mounted onth'e base plate. As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft of the motor extends through an enlarged opening in the rear wall of housing 6 and carries a disc v9 eccentrically on its end. This disc is ro tatably mounted in a bearing ring Ill that is movable;vertically between a pair of vertical wear plates l I attached to the side walls of the housing. f This ring is in engagement with both plates at all times. Thus, when the eccentric disc is rotated by the motor it raisesV and lowers the bearing ring in the housing and also moves it sideways. The lateral movement of the ring swings housing 6 back and forth and thereby oscillates the cross bar on pin 4. As these oscillations occur very rapidly the cross bar is Vibrated' at high frequency.

y Rigidly mounted on cross bar 3 is a metal plate l5 inthe form of afootrest. This plate is supported above the bar by pins I6 that are rigidly connected to both. Consequently, the footrest is vibratedby the cross bar and can be used in the usualway to massage and stimulate feet resting on,v it.

It is a feature of this invention that this apparatus is designed' particularly for correcting bunions, hammer toes, and deformed feet through vibration of the feet. For this purpose, the toes or foot are placed under tension while being vibrated. Accordingly, a metal bracket 20 is secured in any suitable manner to the` outer or frontend of the driving motor. This bracket extends forward from the motor and then is bent .upwardly to form a vertical wall 2l that preferably is curved horizontally as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, this wall has integral extensions at its ends, and is provided with two vertically spaced rows of openings 22 and 23, as shown .inFig 3. v l

Mounted in one ofthe openings in each row is one end of a traction device which may take vvarious forms. The form shown includes a barrel 25 which has an integral threaded stud 23 at its front end projecting through one of the bracket openings. A knurled nut 21 is threaded on `the stud for removably fastening the barrel to `the bracket. The barrel extends rearwardly toward the footrest, and its rear end is threaded interiorly to receive a threaded sleeve 28 having an enlarged and knurled outer end. This sleeve islocked in any desired position by a knurled collar 29 threaded on it and tightened against the end of the barrel. A rod 3l, Yhavingla hook 32 at its outer end, is slidably mounted inthe sleeve and is urgedV inwardly of the barrel by an encircling coil spring 33 compressed between the inner end of the sleeve and a nut 34 on the inner end of the rod. By screwing the sleeve into or out of the barrel, the initial pressure on the spring can be adjusted. Y

' This apparatus is used by having the patient place his feet rmly on the footrest. In correcting bunions, for example, the big toes are then connected by suitable leather grips or tapedon slings to the hooks of the traction devices. One sling or grip 35 is shown in Fig. l. The feet are so positioned relative to the traction devices that the rods 3| are pulled part way out of the barrels, whereby considerable tension is exerted on the toes by springs 33 so that the large joints are opened to some extent and the toes are held in an overcorrected position. The high frequency A vibration of the footrest numbs the feet so that the patient does not experience the severe pain that otherwise would be caused by opening the aiilicted toe joints and pulling the big toes away from the other toes. The vibration also gets articulation into the joints and increases the blood supply Vtothe joint areas. A series of such treatments bring about the reduction and eventual elimination of the bunions.

By having a plurality of locations for the traction devices, the best positions for them for any given bunion condition can be selected. In most cases it is desirable to pull the big toe away :from the other toes as well as forward, so the toe is usually connected to the traction device at the opposite side of the apparatus. Due to the traction devices being located at different levels, the toe grips can cross each other without interference. It is for the purpose of having each traction hook point more or less toward the big toe on the opposite side of the apparatus that the vertical wall 2l is curved as shown in Fig. 1. The provision of several positions for each traction device also permits each one to be located in the best position for attachment to hammer toes.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider tolrepresent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

l. Foot correcting apparatus comprising a movable footrest, means for vibrating the :footrest, an electric motor in front of the footrest for driving said vibrating means, a bracket supported by the front end of the motor and projecting above it, anda traction device supported by said bracket and extending rearwardly toward the footrest, said device being adapted to be connected to a human foot resting on the footrest for exerting tractionV thereon while the footrest is vibrated, and said `bracket being formed for supporting said traction device in any one of a plurality of laterally spaced positions.

2. Foot correcting apparatus comprising amovable footrest, means for vibrating the footrest, an electric motor in front of the footrest for driving said vibrating means, a bracket supported by the front end of the motor and projecting above it, said bracket having an upright portion provided with a plurality of laterally spaced openings through it, and a traction device adapted to have one end inserted in any of said openings for detachably connecting it to the bracket in diierent positions, said device extending rearwardly toward said footrest and being adapted to be connected to a human foot resting on the footrest for exerting traction thereon while the footrest is vibrated.

3. `Foot correcting apparatus comprising a movable footrest, means for vibrating the footrest, an electric motor in front of the footrest for driving said vibrating means, a bracket supported by the upper part of the front end of the motor and projecting above it, said bracket being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced openings through it, and a traction device having one end formed for insertion in any of said openings for detachably connecting it to the bracket in different positions, said device extending rearwardly toward said footrest and including a spring-re-V tracted hook adapted to be connected to a human foot resting on the footrest for exerting traction thereon while the footrest is vibrated.

4. Foot correcting apparatus comprising a movable footrest, means for vibrating the footrest, an electriemotor in front of the footrest for `driving said vibrating means, a bracket supported by the front end of the motor and 'having' an upright wall projecting above it, said wall being curved horizontally to position the'ends thereof closer to the motor than its center and a pair of traction devices supported by said curved upright of the bracket and extending toward the footrest, whereby said devices are inclined relativelto each other horizontally and adapted to be connected to human feet resting on the'footrest for exerting traction thereon while the footrest is vibrated. i

5. Foot correcting apparatuscomprising a movable footrest, means for vibrating the footrest,'an electric motor in front of the footrest for drivingsaid vibrating means, a bracket supported by the upper portion of the outer end ofthe motor and having ari-upright Vwall projecting 'above' it,

v40 said wall being curved horizontally to position its ends closer to the motor than its center portion, and a pair of traction devices supported by said curved upright wall of the bracket Yat different levels and extending toward the'footrest, whereby said devices are inclined relative to each other horizontally and adapted to be connected to human feet resting on theY footrest for"` exerting traction thereon while Vthe footrestisvibrated. A

6. Foot correcting apparatus comprising amovable footrest, means for vibrating the footrest, an electric motor infront-of Vthe footrest for driving said vibrating means, a bracket having a'portion secured at one end to the upper part of the motor and projecting forward away from it, the outer end of said portion being provided with an upright-wall projecting above the motor, said wall being .curved horizontally to' position its ends closer to the motor than its center portion and. being provided with two vertically spaced rows of laterally spaced openings, and a pair of traction devices each formed at one end for insertion in any of the openings in one of .said rows for detachably connecting it to the'bracket in different positions, said devices extending rearwardly to-Y spaced holes, and a pair of traction devices each formed at; one end for insertion in any of the holes in one of said rows for detachable connection to the bracket in different positions, said devices extending rearwardly toward the footrest -sind each including a. hook at its rear end and a spring for resisting movement of the hook toward the footrest and means for adjusting the resistance oiered by the spring, said hooks being adapted to be connected to the big toes of human feet resting on the footrest for exerting traction 5 on said toes while the footrest is vibrated.

IRENE A. DANNER. 

